As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” Luke 19:37–40
Many know this day as Palm Sunday. Others refer to it as Passion Sunday. I like to consider both the palm and passion aspects of the day together.
On the Sunday before Easter, we remember and celebrate the day Jesus rode in to Jerusalem on a donkey fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah:
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zech 9:9)
Many people in Jerusalem laid their coats down in front of Jesus. Others grabbed palm fronds and began waving them (a Jewish national symbol conveying the notion of victory over one’s enemies) as they hailed Jesus as king. Most in the crowd that day shouted praises toward Jesus,
Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest! (Matt 21:9, echoing the words of the psalmist; Ps 118:25–26).
There was no doubt—this was a celebration! Shouts of praise . . . symbols of victory . . . a kingly entrance (except for that donkey, what's that about? Well, it’s about a plan that goes beyond earthly reasoning and understanding). The celebration was glorious, but we must not stop at the waving of palm fronds. We must read on a little further. And Luke shares with us the event immediately after Jesus’ entrance to Jerusalem. The people were shouting praises, the Pharisees were upset, and Jesus told them that he would not silence the crowd because if he did, then the rocks would begin to shout praises. It is what happens next that should cause us to pause. Jesus looked over the city of Jerusalem and wept. This was not a good cry. This was a grieving cry. You see, Jesus knew the path that was set before him. This was a path that began with this entrance. He knew that by the end of the week, the shouts of praise would turn to cries for his death. He saw the sin in the people’s hearts and their refusal to let him cleanse them. He knew that their shouts of “Hosanna,” meaning “Lord, save us” were just words. They didn't really mean it . . . at least not in the sense that really matters—spiritually. In fact, their cries of "Hosanna" were directing him to the moment and place where he could actually fulfill their request to save them—the cross. And so, Jesus wept. Each step Jesus took from that point forward took him one step closer to the cross.
This was the passion (suffering). This was the palm (praise). This was, and is, the journey of Holy Week.
Prayer
Lord, save us.
Lord Jesus, save us, your children.
Lord Jesus Christ, save us, your children, from ourselves.
Lord Jesus, forgive our sin and help us to reject future sin and the power it has over us.
Lord Jesus, save us, your children, from ourselves.
Lord Jesus, save us, your children.
Lord, save us.
Hosanna!
Hosanna, Loud Hosanna
Hosanna, loud hosanna, the little children sang:
Through pillared court and temple the lovely anthem rang.
To Jesus, who had blessed them close folded to His breast,
The children sang their praises, the simplest and the best.
From Olivet they followed ‘mid an exultant crowd,
The victor palm branch waving, and chanting clear and loud.
The Lord of men and angels rode on in lowly state,
Nor scorned that little children should on His bidding wait.
“Hosanna in the highest!” that ancient song we sing,
For Christ is our Redeemer, the Lord of heaven our King.
O may we ever praise Him with heart and life and voice,
And in His blissful presence eternally rejoice!
Jeannette Threlfall, 1873